Trojan slung his jacket off his shoulder the moment he got off his carriage. He hung his jacket on the jacket stand near the door of his estate before taking his hat off, tossing it aside. He loosened his tie and dropped his walking stick against the nearest cupboard. Trojan seemed unsatisfied, and he did not like his options.
"My lord, would you like to have lunch soon?" His maid asked him, following close behind him.
"No need." Trojan told her, power walking forward.
"Regarding Marchioness Emilia…" His maid started to ask.
"I'll explain later," Trojan told his maid. "Call the Treasurer, Secretary and Head butler over for a meeting. There is something I need to discuss."
"Right away, my lord." His maid said, bowing before she walked in another direction.
Trojan went back to his office, where a bunch of papers were stacked neatly on top of one another. He flipped through a few before giving up, rearranging the pieces of paper into a neat stack once again before he left. The most important decision he needed to make was upon him, and he needed to discuss with his staff before doing anything else.
Trojan power walked his way around his estate, eventually finding himself at the conference room. He opened the door, and four figures were already there. The Secretary, The Treasurer and the Head Butler of the House of Trojan. His maid stood behind the seat where Trojan would be seated at.
It was a simple long, rectangular table. There were several seats, but the only ones present were the five of them. Trojan walked to the far end of the table, sitting down and facing his staff. They were his most trusted subordinates, and the ones who had stuck with him since young.
"This is an emergency." Trojan declared,tapping the table.
There was no reply.
"I will need a report on how the merging of our house and the House of Emilia will affect us. I am trusting Louis with that." Trojan said, looking at his Secretary. "After the report has been put together, I would like Marco to observe how our financial situation will fair, and how our financial situation will far should we invest twenty percent of our wealth into the defence efforts."
"Twenty percent, my lord?" Marco, the Treasurer asked. "That is quite the fortune."
"It will be necessary." Trojan assured.
Marco and Louis remained silent, the both of them already thinking about how to do their job. The head butler, Klaus, simply awaited his instructions.
"Klaus, I'll need you to find a way to contact Domino. Tell him I need him to finish the work I assigned him as quickly as possible. By estimation, I would prefer him to be finished in three day's time." Trojan ordered.
"Domino is a difficult man to contact, my lord." Klaus said.
"I'm sure you will be able to find a way. If it comes to it, we shall forcefully summon him back." Trojan said before facing Louis. "Tell me the predicted effect on the house should I marry with Marchioness Emilia."
"The Marchioness Emilia is a rich person, my lord." Louis replied. "I am sure that your wealth may very well double."
"What about preparations for the wedding?" Trojan asked. "What is the financial overview of it?"
"Not that much compared to your wealth, my lord." Marco replied. "However, regarding the twenty percent of your wealth, it will devastatingly affect our trade with the common people. There is also a possibility that the businesses my lord has been supporting might also take a hit."
"How many? And how badly will it affect us?" Trojan asked.
"About half our business associates will be affected, and my lord's alliances with several other nobility might become null. We are foreseeing a drop in about a quarter of future profits." Marco roughly calculated.
Trojan rubbed his head. He wanted to help with the defence effort, but judging by how much it would affect him, Trojan was starting to have second thoughts.
"About after we merge with Marchioness Emilia?" Trojan asked.
"The Marchioness Emilia does not have many business partners, nor does she have many alliances with noble families." Louis confirmed.
"Should our wealth be doubled, I do believe we will see a positive profit despite the twenty percent of our wealth being put away." Marco confirmed.
Trojan nodded.
"Sorry to interrupt, my lord, are you really planning on marrying Marchioness Emilia?" Klaus asked.
"It is a consideration. With all things considered, it does seem like the best option currently." Trojan said, sighing. "It could be worse, Marchioness Emilia is smart person."
"My lord, shall I arrange a party should you decide to marry the Marchioness?" Klaus asked, seeming more cheerful than usual.
"That would be ideal, yes." Trojan agreed.
Trojan tapped the tabletop a few times before he stood up. He started walking out of the conference room, seemingly in a rush. He said back to them, "Louis, I want that report done before sunset. Marco, check the financial effect of whatever Louis is able to come up with. Klaus, try to contact Domino as soon as possible. I want all of this done and in my office by sunset."
"Yes, my lord." The three of them said at the same time.
Trojan left the room, his maid following close behind him. His maid remained silent as Trojan power walked to his office.
He told his maid before he went in, "I would like to have some space to think, and could you bring over a few refreshments and biscuits into my study?"
"Of course, my lord." His maid said, bowing and leaving.
Trojan entered his study and sat down at his seat. He rubbed his head, not feeling too great. There was simply too much to think about, and too little time. The report should be in his office by sunset, and he would only be able to skim through it before he was rushed for dinner with the royal family.
His promotion to a Duke was a very important event to him, for it would mean that he had done everything he could to get up in the world. He simply needed Duke Phoenix's support, for having the support of Duke Phoenix was like having the support from the royal family.
There was a gust of wind some time after.
In front of him, in the middle of the room, stood a young man in blue robes, holding a staff about as tall as he was.
"My lord, you called?" Domino asked.